ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday set aside a 200 per cent increase in property tax by Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) in the federal capital.

An IHC single bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani announced its reserved verdict.The court directed MCI to levy property tax as per old rates and restrained Capital Development Authority (CDA) from charging the tax, ruling that the authority to collect property tax is vested with the MPC and not CDA.

The IHC bench further ordered an audit into property tax collected by CDA after 2015 and directed it to deposit the amount it had collected under the head of property tax into the local government fund.

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and others had moved petitions in the IHC challenging the hefty increase in property tax.

They had contended before the court that MCI hiked property tax by 200 per cent while misusing its powers and requested the court to set aside the decision regarding the hike.

ISLAMABAD : Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Security Moeed Yusuf has said that Pakistan wants to see economic stability in Afghanistan.

After the conclusion of Track II dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Moeed Yusuf said that both countries should devise a comprehensive strategy for enhancing economic ties. He added that the economic prosperity of both countries was linked with each other.

He added that Pakistan is focusing on economic security and peace in Afghanistan is essential for building strong contacts with Central Asian states.
The SAPM on National Security said that Pakistan has taken effective steps to promote trade, visa facilities and economic ties besides opening border markets in Kurram and Chitral.

The members of Afghan delegation also praised the efforts of the Pakistani government for establishing peace in Afghanistan. They assured that more progress will be made in bilateral trade ties in the future.

In a Twitter message, Moeed Yusuf said, “It was a pleasure to meet a senior Afghan delegation visiting Islamabad for a Track II dialogue. Pakistan remains fully committed to a peaceful and prosperous future alongside our Afghan brothers and sisters.”

ISLAMABAD : President Arif Alvi has granted approval to a reference to be filed by the government in the Supreme Court under Article 186 of the Constitution, according to a report.

In the reference proposed by the prime minister, the government will seek the opinion of the apex court about holding the upcoming Senate polls through the open ballot. The government has also sought guidance of the supreme court if the issue can be decided without amending the constitution and introducing amendment in section 122 (vi) of the Election Act 2017.

The government had earlier decided to hold the Senate polls through the open ballot to ensure transparency in the election.

Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan while talking to the media earlier said that the presidential reference will likely to be filed under Article 186 of the Constitution this week.

The AGP said that the government will seek the interpretation of Article 226 of the Constitution. Article 226 says all elections under the Constitution other than those of the prime minister and chief ministers shall be held through secret ballot.

Rana Farrukh

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Wednesday said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, would get nothing but disgrace in its anti-government move as they were following the agenda of personal gains, setting aside national interests.

The minister, in a tweet, said the alliance was badly exposed in the daylight and destined to meet disgrace in public due to their personal interests and lack of trust in each other, saying “Yeh Saanjh Ki Handiya Beech Chorahay Phoot Rahi Hay.”

He said the recent statements of veteran leaders of (JUI-F) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed were conspicuous examples.

Shibli Faraz said a self interested component group, having divergent directions and destinations, had fully been exposed.

The minister said there was nothing good for the common man in the politics of scattered opposition having dispersed views. May Allah Almighty help the opposition to see the people and their problems instead of passion to clinch the power, he added.

COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS) in the partnership of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) holds seminar 

DNA

ISLAMABAD: A webinar was held on the topic, “Air Quality under South-South Cooperation: What Works for Developing Countries, through the Lens of Science, Technology and Governance?” jointly organized by COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS) in the partnership of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at Islamabad with the aim to elucidate newer efforts to increase awareness, foster connectivity and implement solutions in developing countries on air pollution and work with partners in the Global South to chart the way forward for this decade. This webinar was 9th webinar of CCCS Webinars Series.

Webinar initiated with the welcome remarks of Amb. Shahid Kamal, Head CCCS, he talked about importance of Air Quality research for policy formulation, followed by message of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Technology, ICESCO. Webinar was moderated by Mr. Hassan Sipra, Senior Research Officer, COMSATS University Islamabad.

Participants in the webinar include: Dr. Johann Antoine, Head of the Nuclear Analytical Lab and Project Lead for Air Quality Programme, Jamaica,Dr. Eric Zusman, Senior Policy Researcher, and Institute for Global Environmental Studies (IGES) in Hayama, Japan, Dr. Hassan Kchih, Head of Air Monitoring Section Environmental Protection and Control Department (EPCD) Royal Commission Jubail and Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Professor Jalal Halwani, Head of Health & Environment Department, Director of Water & Environment Lab, Lebanon,Dr. Foued El Ayni, Environmental Expert at Directorate of Science & Technology of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO),Morroco , Dr. Jacob Sonibare, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria,Mr. Abid Omar, Founder of Air Quality Initiative, Pakistan., Professer Gabriel Filippelli, Professor of Earth Sciences, Director, Center for Urban Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, U.S.A.

Scientists from different regions of world talked about crises of poor air quality and health issues especially in global south countries. They emphasized on health issues mediated from poor air quality.  To achieve Sustainable Development Goals, clean air plays very important role in the context of, SDG 3 Good Health, SDG 7 Clean Energy, SDG11 Sustainable Cites and SDG13 Climate Action.

Scientists talked about research in the area of air monitoring, developing countries and even developed world are lacking research in this area. Scientific and evidence-based knowledge is very important for policy formulation.Experts showed interest to conduct collaborative research projects with CCCS Network institutions